Colombo, Sri Lanka, August 18, 2020: Former Sri Lanka rugby captain Namal Rajapaksa has been appointed as the new Sports Minister of the island nation.
Rajapaksa, 34, is the youngest person to hold this position. He became a Member of Parliament by winning the seat of Hambantota district in the south of the country for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party at the general elections earlier this month.
Rajapaksa took oaths as Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his uncle, last week.
A product of St. Thomas’ College, Rajapaksa excelled in rugby as a front-row forward, representing Sri Lanka and captaining the team. He is a keen follower of sports and has maintained good relationships with professional sportsmen around the country.
Speaking to the Daily News, the newly appointed cabinet minister said: “I am honoured to be appointed. I thank President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for placing their confidence in me.”
Mahinda Rajapaksa is Namal’s father.
This is the first time Namal Rajapaksa is receiving a ministerial portfolio after entering Parliament in 2010.
He polled a record 166,000 votes from Hambantota to be elected to the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka.
